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LEWIS & CLARK REGIONAL WATER SYSTEM

THE CHALLENGEThe Lewis & Clark Regional Water System formed in 1990, when 20 cities and rural water systems in northwest Iowa, southeast South Dakota and southwest Minnesota pooled their resources to tackle common water issues, such as poor quality and limited access. Lewis & Clark began delivering water in 2012. Today, the system serves water to 15 of its 20 members.

A funding shortfall has delayed connections to the remaining five members, including Sioux Center, Hull, Sheldon and Sibley, with economic development projects on the line. It is past time to finish what Iowa started, to provide the safe drinking water these communities deserve and to grow the economy.

ECONOMIC IMPACTA finished Lewis and Clark Regional Water System will serve an estimated 300,000 people, including people who travel into member communities to work, shop and play. The water system already has paid off for economic development, attracting businesses and creating jobs in communities that would have been bypassed without this critical service. For example:

· Agropur chose Hull for its cheese manufacturing plant because of Lewis & Clark’s emergency connection with Sioux Center and the promise of future water from the system.

· Rock Rapids sells a significant portion of its water to nearby Lyon-Sioux Regional Water System, enabling that system to serve area homes and businesses.

· Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort near Larchwood depends on Lewis & Clark to provide water via Rock Rapids and Lyon-Sioux Regional Water System.

REQUEST$1.7 million funding advance from the state

This zero-interest loan will be repaid with federal dollars available once the four remaining Iowa communities and one in South Dakota are connected to Lewis & Clark (repayment is expected to begin in FY2025).

This funding will be used to construct a water tower in Sheldon. Lewis & Clark intends to award a contract in the summer of 2021 to prevent further delays in water service to Sheldon, which also impacts the timeline for providing water service to Sibley. FY21 federal funding for Lewis & Clark ($17.5 million) will be used to connect other Iowa communities.

Further buildout of Lewis & Clark will be put on hold until the state is repaid.

“Sheldon is unable to recruit wet industries until we

have Lewis & Clark water. We simply do not have the

quantity or quality of water needed to be considered

by an industry that counts on a high volume or a high

quality water source. Every delay in the hook up to

Lewis & Clark gives us a higher potential in missing

an economic development opportunity.”

– Todd Uhl, Sheldon Public Works Director

and Lewis & Clark Director

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT

IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY1963 Bell Avenue, Suite 200Des Moines, Iowa 50315

515.348.6200

“We currently have two businesses in the food processing industry that have expressed genuine

interest in Sibley. The water usage capabilities, along with the quality of water that Lewis and Clark

Regional Water System provide, may be the tipping point that brings these businesses to our town as

opposed to a neighboring state that we are currently getting compared to.”

– Cory Dykstra, Sibley Utilities Superintendent

“Lewis & Clark connecting to Sioux Center will be just in time to supplement our supply as our

consumption is nearly growing beyond our current ability to serve. Also, our well supply has seen an

increase in our nitrate levels that nears the Iowa DNR limit. Blending Lewis & Clark water with our

supply will allow us to serve the safe quality water Iowans expect.

– Murray Hulstein, Sioux Center Utilities Manager and Lewis & Clark Vice Chairman

Operational/Complete - 206.0 miles

Under Construction - 33.8 miles

Future Pipeline RouteSioux Center

Hull

Rock Rapids (2)&RCRW (1)

Worthington

LuverneRCRW (2) & LPRWS (1) @ Magnolia

LPRWS (1) @ Adrian

Rock Rapids (1)LCRWS & Sioux Falls

SLRWS

LennoxParker

Sioux Falls

Tea

MCWC (3)

MCWC (1)

Centerville

Madison

Sibley

Sheldon

“Shovel Ready”

Meter Building Pump

Reservoir or Water Tower

Horizontal Collector Well

MCWC (2)

Beresford

Member Able to Receive L&C Water

Member Planned to Receive L&C Water in 2023

Tea Reservoirs & Pump Station

85th StreetTower

Water Treatment Plant

Mullberry Point Well Field (12 Wellls)

LEWIS & CLARK REGIONAL WATER SYSTEMCONSTRUCTION PROGRESS AS OF OCTOBER 2020

SOUTH DAKOTA

MINNESOTA

IOWA

Harrisburg